Amazing Author Adventures by Author Carol Malone
Today we welcome author Carol Malone as she shares with us some amazing author adventures. Enjoy!
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Is there a “Holy Grail” in book publishing?
I love to learn about the writing and publishing process. During one such workshop, I was told NOT to publish my paperback until I’d saved sufficient money to have it professionally done. We’re talking thousands of dollars. To use an old phrase, “I was bummed.” I shared my “bummed-ness” with my friend and mentor, Paul Bishop http://fightcardbooks.com/paul-bishop of Fight Card fame, and he told me. “You are searching for the publishing and marketing Holy Grail which does not exist.”
I was flabbergasted and confused then researched the term. I learned the grail was a “Celtic myth of a cauldron endowed with special powers,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Grail. Some people were so obsessed; they went on a crusade to possess it hoping for immortality.
Of course, we all want to be immortalized. We want the perfect editor, an angel agent from Heavenly Literary Services, and Paradise Publishing House to offer us a seven figure deal, with all the accompanying rights. We dream of overnight success – think 50 tints of some bland color, or that wizardy kid. We want instantaneous gratification and millions of dollars – and for some, we think by laying out a bundle of money, we can buy such a dream.
I was blessed with people like Beth Barany, http://www.bethbarany.com/and Paul Bishop fighting in my corner. Paul, along with Mel Odom, http://fightcardbooks.com/mel-odom, started something called a “Writer’s Co-op. http://fightcardbooks.com/writers-guidelines. This is a group of gifted writers dedicated to bringing back fine pulp literature from the past with a modern flair. Though this group originally allowed entrance only to tough-minded males, I punched my way through and became the first women to publish a Fight Card novel. This meant I had all the access to their expert book cover designer, layout wizard, and Paul’s publishing and marketing know how, and I was the recipient of all these generously offered services without cracking my bank. Thoroughly embarrassed and humbled by my sensei’s words, I took heart in what he told me:
“You are a good writer. You can become a great writer. But neither designation offers you publishing success if you only define that success via dollars. You already know more than you need to know about writing and publishing. This is a tough business. Get down in the trenches, keep writing, and follow those who are trying to promote you and push you ahead instead of the naysayers who want your money and offer nothing but discouragement. We all get beat up from round to round, but we hang in there to win the fight. Frankly, you have got to pick one person to listen to and not keep going round and round in circles getting conflicting advice.”
You can do all your own publishing, marketing and promoting, or you can spend thousands. It’s up to you. However, you must trust yourself and learn everything you can about the process. Another online guru of mine, David Farland said, “Each of us as writers must set off on our own journeys. Fortunately, the textbooks that I studied are still out there …The number of writing workshops that are available now is staggering …there are many guides willing to help as best they can,” http://www.davidfarland.com/writing_tips/?a=303. The real trick comes in picking those experts who are not in the writing and publishing game solely to make a buck, but who genuinely want to see you succeed and find your personal Holy Grail.
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Carol Malone successfully combines her three passions – writing, sports, and romance and became the very first woman to climb into the boxing ring in the male dominated stories of Fight Card. Her ebook Ladies Night http://tinyurl.com/
If not hammering out new tales that entice her readers to scramble into a front row seat for thrilling tales of physical endurance and tender passion, Carol’s reading, watching sports on TV, or hanging with her fanatical “end-of-the-world” author husband on the cool coast of California. To talk to Carol about sports and amour or to learn about her latest book releases, visit Carol on her website:www.carolmalone.net.
Website: http://carolmalone.net/
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